Planning to have a punt with Paddy Power on the Cheltenham Festival? Well, it’s only sensible to do as much research as possible before you get your ducks in a row!
We like to think we’re helpful folks here at PP News so we’ve gone through the history books to pick out some key trends for all seven races on the fourth and final day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
Galopin Des Champs bids to add the Cheltenham equivalent to his resume after landing the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month, but he faces 12 rivals in the Blue Riband of Jumps racing.
A Plus Tard is back to defend his crown after showing an electric turn of foot to land last year’s renewal, while 2021 winner Minella Indo bids to regain his crown at the age of 10. If that wasn’t enough to whet the appetite, this season’s King George scorer Bravemansgame and last year’s Grand National hero Noble Yeats also take their place.
There are a couple more Grade 1s on the card courtesy of the Triumph Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle as well as the Grade 2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase, a couple of big-field handicaps and the Hunters’ Chase AKA the Amateur Gold Cup.
Cheltenham Festival odds can be found on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise the key trends for all seven races on Friday at Cheltenham are below.
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Cheltenham 1:30 – JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
A concern for Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau supporters is that only two of the last 15 winners have run over hurdles more than three times.
Blood Destiny also has a negative in that the last 24 winners of the Triumph Hurdle ran between 18 and 55 days before.
Cheltenham 2:10 – County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
You want to be looking for a novice or second-season hurdler as that was the basic profile of 18 of the last 20 winners.
Filey Bay and Pembroke are proving popular in Paddy Power’s betting but a beaten favourite last time out has not won since 2013.
Cheltenham 2:50 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Gordon Elliott saddles a couple of market principles – Three Card Brag and Favori De Champdou – but he has yet to win this in his training career.
A further negative trend for Favori De Champdou is that there has been just one French-bred winner in the last 14 years.
Cheltenham 3:30 – Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
Just one horse this century has won the Blue Riband of Jumps racing – Native River – when sporting headgear.
You will also want to look towards the head of Paddy Power’s Cheltenham Gold Cup betting market as there have only been two winners with an SP bigger than 10/1 since the year 2000.
Cheltenham 4:10 – St. James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase
The favourite, Vaucelet, will have to defy the recent trend that the last eight winners were aged 10 or 11.
A further plus for 11-year-old Billaway is that five of last six winners aged over 10 were course winners.
Cheltenham 4:50 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)
Willie Mullins is two from two in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.
The two previous winners of the race were first past the post last time out.
Cheltenham 5:30 – Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Just one favourite has returned to the winner’s enclosure since the inaugural running in 2009.
A worrying trend for Spanish Harlem backers is that no beaten favourite last time out has ever won this.
Cheltenham Tips
- Our ultimate Cheltenham Cheat Sheet for all seven races on day four
- Ruby Walsh’s Cheltenham Cheat Sheet for day four of the Festival
- Former jockey Mick Fitzgerald’s best Cheltenham tips for day four of the meeting
- ITV Racing pundit Matt Chapman’s Cheltenham tips for day four of the Festival
Read More on the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
- Get all the latest Horse Racing News and Racing Tips at Paddy Power News
- Cheltenham Festival 2023 race times and day-by-day schedule
- All you need to know about the Cheltenham weather forecast, going and ground conditions